So, this holiday season I have 4 families with just cats. How long do you all stay during a cat visit? The entire 30 min? All of these cats are elusive so I go in, feed, fresh water, clean litter, make sure I "see" them then leave. How do you all handle cat drop in visits?
I'm a cat mom, and I also have many cat clients this season. I always spend at least 30 minutes with the cat, more if I can spare it and the cat is friendly. I use Rover cards and it's important to me for my client to see that I was there for the full 30 minutes that they paid for, even if the cat isn't around for that whole time.
My visits are pretty similar. If I am watching a cat who is friendly, then I will cuddle them and play a bit just to give them some "people time", but cats are fickle and are usually done interacting after about 5 minutes. So I clean and refresh everything, spend a few minutes with interactive kitties, and I'm finished. Going to the same house has taken as little as 15 minutes, and as much as 40 minutes before, depending on how much cleaning up needs to be done.
When caring for multiple households, though, I'd create a set schedule to prevent me from spending too much time at one place and causing myself to be in too much of rush toward the end.
I'm interested to hear you say that you clean because to me the cat visit should entail cleaning the litter box but do you also clean up other things? (furry furniture, cat dishes, etc) I wouldn't consider that when i walk a dog as part of my duties so why do you consider it for a cat?
I'm not opposed to it to be clear! It sounds like a great service. I'm just curious how you arrived at that conclusion
haha I see what you mean. Yes, I do clean the cat's dishes when I refill them--especially when I leave wet food, because the bowl gets all crusty, and that's just gross.
I also watched a cat once who tracked litter ALL OVER the floor where the litter box was, so I spent maybe 5 minutes sweeping it up and shaking out the litter mat, so the house would be clean when owner came home from her trip. =)
This is for actually watching a cat, though, where the owner is out of town for a few days. If you're just doing a potty walk for a dog, it's not really the same thing, and I wouldn't do any cleaning, either.
Goal: owner arrives to see the house exactly like he/she left it, and a happy kitty
For me personally, I like to stay with the cat for a bit so the cat does not feel lonely. I will normally stay from 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on the cat. If they are more sociable and like to be around people than I stay longer. Depending on what the owner requested. For example some clients only want you to come in and out,not staying which is fine with me. Than there are the clients who would like their cats to have social time. These cats tend to be use to being around people. I have had some owners who would like their cats brushed, pet, sometimes they would like their cats to go out in the patio for 30 mins to get fresh air. At the meet and greet is a really good time to talk to the owner and find out what it is that they want and expect while you are watching their cat. It is always best to ask questions at the meet and greets. Even if it seems so basic, I still ask. What may seem normal and expected to me may not be what the owner finds normal or what he/she wanted. Best of Luck!
30 minutes. It's what is advertised in the list of services and what pet parents assume they will get for what they're paying for.
I take a game or a book.
Even if the cat is unsocial or unfriendly, I believe it's comforting for them when their people are gone to know that they haven't been abandoned.